THE HUNT BEGINS

The night stretched on, shrouding the city in a blanket of unsettling silence, broken only by the faint hum of distant machinery. The outskirts of the city were a labyrinth of forgotten alleys and derelict buildings, each corner cloaked in shadow. Alaric and James moved through the maze with practiced ease, their strides purposeful yet cautious. The cool air carried a faint metallic tang, mingling with the damp scent of rain-soaked pavement.

Alaric's gaze swept the darkened path ahead. "We can find Xavier easily if we find Acantha first," he said, his voice low and deliberate, cutting through the stillness like a blade.

James pulled his jacket tighter against the cold, his face etched with skepticism. "Finding her's the easy part," he replied, his tone laced with dry humor. "The hard part's surviving once we do. Acantha isn't exactly known for her hospitality."